More than 40,000 visitors flocked to the island and it was a period of highs and lows with lap records falling, a spectacular return to winning form for Bingley rider Ian Hutchinson, and a 23rd win for Morecambe’s John McGuinness, taking him closer to equalling Joey Dunlop’s record 26 wins.

Sadly the event was also marred by five deaths.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly MHK said the event was attracting ever more visitors. He thanked the huge army of volunteers including the marshals who ensured the event could take place.

‘The event is becoming more international with around 26 million watching through the syndicated broadcasts and we also had 400 journalists at the event this year from around the world. The event was one of the best yet with visitors at around centenary levels,’ he said.

He said there was still more to come with the 60th Southern 100 races in July and the MGP and classic TT in August. He offered condolences to the families of visitors and the competitor who died in accidents during the fortnight.

Marshals’ chairman Terry Holmes thanked everyone who had volunteered but said there seemed to have been a worrying increase in people trespassing on closed roads with incidents at Ballahutchin and Crosby but added it had been robustly dealt with by police and the courts. He made an early plea for marshals to help particularly at the start of practices for the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT in August.

The weather dealt a severe blow to early arrivals at the start of practice week when it remained cold and wet with high winds flattening tents, disrupting ferry sailings and causing the cancellation of Monday night’s practices.

A helicopter crash on moorland near the 33rd Milestone on the event’s opening Saturday claimed the life of the pilot.

Three visiting motorcyclists died in separate accidents at Guthries, the Les Graham Memorial and the Ballaugh to Jurby road. French TT newcomer Franck Petricola also died in an accident approaching Sulby crossroads during practices.

Steam Packet figures suggest passenger numbers were similar to last year but the addition of a mezzanine level in the Manannan’s car deck meant the boat could carry extra motorbikes for visitors who had been unable to bring them last year. The Ben-my-Chree was also able to accommodate more bikes because MV Arrow handled the freight services. These two factors saw a 16 per cent rise in the number of bikes to 14,055, just over 2,000 more than last year.

Four competitors – Jamie Hamilton, Roy Richardson, Michael Sweeney and Graham English – are still receiving hospital treatment.

The event also saw a number of people arrested for trespassing on closed roads, with one visitor from Bristol imprisoned for eight weeks for a public order offence committed after he had strayed onto the roads, and another cautioned after retrieving a can from the road.

All indications point to a busy 2016 event.

Visitors descended on the Sea Terminal to secure the best crossings for next year with some reporting queuing since 4am.

In the space of just 10 hours 3,300 bookings were taken for next year and after one week more than 7,000 bookings were made for 16,800 passengers and 8,500 motorcycles.